On All Hallows' Eve

From ghoulies and ghosties 

And long-leggedy beasties 

And things that go bump in the night, 

Good Lord, deliver us!

(Traditional Scottish prayer)

A Prayer of Columba of Iona

Be thou a bright flame before me, 
Be thou a guiding star above me, 
Be thou a smooth path below me, 
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me, 
Today - tonight - and for ever.

(a prayer of Columba of Iona; 

illustration by Comfreak via pixabay.com)

Just Like Jeremiah

Lord God Adonai, by your great grace 

make me, like Jeremiah, 

"a fortified city, an iron pillar, bronze walls," 

in Jesus' name, amen.

(based on Jeremiah 1:18)

Pity My Unsettled Soul

Jesus, Shepherd of the sheep, 
Pity my unsettled soul; 
Guide and nourish me and keep, 
Till Thy love shall make me whole. 
Give me perfect soundness, give; 
Make me steadfastly believe. 

I am never at one stay, 
Changing every hour I am; 
But Thou art, as yesterday, 
Now and evermore the same. 
Constancy to me impart, 
Stablish with Thy Grace my heart. 

Give me faith to hold me up, 
Walking over life's rough sea; 
Holy, purifying hope, 
Still my soul's sure anchor be. 
That I may be always Thine, 
Perfect me in love divine. 

(a prayer of Charles Wesley)

The Spring of All My Blessings

My Maker and my King, 
To Thee my all I owe; 
Thy constant goodness is the spring 
Whence all my blessings flow. 

The creature of Thy hand, 
On Thee alone I live; 
Thy countless benefits demand 
More praise than I can give. 

O let Thy grace inspire 
My soul with strength divine! 
Let all my powers to Thee aspire, 
And all my days be Thine.

(a hymn by Anne Steele)

Perfect

 

I Dedicate Myself to Thee

The Joy of the Lord

Get Up Son

Lord I want to die 
in my sleep 
I want to go to bed 
and be awakened 
by you 
saying 
Get up son 
it's the first day of school 
the beginning of your new job 
the dawn of eternity. 
Here are your clothes. 
Your older brother 
wore them first 
now they're yours 
forever 
white and fresh and clean 
smelling of heaven.

(from Joseph Bayly's Psalms of My Life; sponsored link)

Cast

   Lord, I cast all my cares upon you. 
   I lay all of my burdens down at your feet. 
   And even though I don't know what to do, 
   I just cast all my cares upon you.

All-in-All

Be thou my vision. 
Be thou my wisdom 
and my righteousness. 
Be thou my peace, my wholeness, my Shalom. 
Be thou my kindness and grace, 
my health and rest, 
my light and salvation. 
Be my joy, 
my everything, 
my all-in-all, 
in Jesus' name, amen.

Godspeed

Lord, I know there are millions of travelers on the roads and rails, on the seas and in the skies today, 

and you love and care for them all. 

But please keep a watchful eye on me, 

in Jesus' name, amen.

Friend of Sinners

Jesus, thank you that you are a friend of sinners, 

or else where would I be?

Remind Me

 

Eternity Within

I thank Thee, O Lord, that Thou hast so set eternity within my heart that no earthly thing can ever satisfy me wholly. I thank Thee that every present joy is so mixed with sadness and unrest as to lead my mind upwards to the contemplations of a more perfect blessedness. And above all I thank Thee for the sure hope and promise of an endless life which Thou hast given me in the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen. 

(a prayer of John Baillie in A Diary of Private Prayer; photo by EvgeniT via pixabay.com)

Possessions

Thank you, good God, 

for the things I don't possess: 

fancy cars, 

expensive clothes,

a boat, a plane, a jet ski,

a second mortgage,

a divorce settlement,

an alimony payment,

a bodyguard,

a fence around my property. 

Thank you also, Lord,

for the things that don't possess ME:

drugs or alcohol,

guilt or shame,

a need to maintain a certain lifestyle

or a desire to keep up appearances. 

Thank you that I am not afflicted with wealth, fame, or beauty, in Jesus' name, amen.

(photo by BarbaraBonanno via pixabay.com)

Generosity

My prayer today for my kids and my grandkids, from the "31 Ways to Pray for Your Kids" app for iPhone and iPad:

On My Favorite Daughter's Birthday

It's my favorite daughter's birthday, Lord. 

I still can't fathom, 

can't even process, 

that she is all she is. 

I'm still and always amazed 

at how kindly, fully, and generously 

you've answered my prayers 

and her mother's prayers 

for her. 

You have made her faithful like Ruth and regal like Esther, 

fierce like Deborah and brilliant like Abigail,

industrious like Lydia and a leader like Junia.

I give you so much praise and thanks

for my only daughter, 

my firstborn, my Blossom; 

for the child you gave me, 

the woman she is, 

the love we share, 

the pride and joy I feel in her, 

the blessings you've given her, 

and the blessings you've given me through her.

Please bless her abundantly today 

and in all the days to come. 

Keep her safe and well. 

Keep her marriage strong and beautiful. 

Prosper her and her husband, 

answer their prayers, 

supply their needs,

fulfill their dreams.

Let her children continue to grow in happiness, health, and holiness.

Reward Aubrey's love and faithfulness and diligence as a mom

with beauty and grace, 

charm and wisdom,

health and wholeness, 

integrity and strength in each of her children 

as you have done for me in mine.

Show her every kindness, 

grant her your favor, 

use her,

bless her,

hold her,

in Jesus' name, amen.

Simple Prayer

Let me live, love, and say it well in good sentences.

(a prayer by Sylvia Plath)

Perfect Faithfulness